Head coach Naushad Moosa believes India U23s should tailor their play to meet the needs of the senior team

New Delhi, March 19 (IANS) India U23 men’s football team gears up for friendly matches against Malaysia under coach Naushad Moosa’s guidance, focusing on aligning juniors with senior team requirements. The team has had training sessions in Delhi and is set to play two friendlies in Kuala Lumpur on March 22 and 25.

Moosa emphasized the importance of understanding the senior team’s needs, as these players will eventually transition to the senior level. He stated, “We are trying our best to build from here and give the boys an idea of the way we want to play so that they can execute that on the pitch.”

Malaysia, led by coach Juan Torres Garrido, is currently preparing for the AFC U23 Asian Cup in April. Moosa mentioned analyzing Malaysia’s gameplay and strategizing accordingly. He pointed out Malaysia’s attacking style and stressed the need for the Indian team to play in a compact manner to counter their opponents effectively.

India U23s faced mixed results in the past, as they lost in AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers but reached the quarterfinals of the Asian Games. On the other hand, Malaysia U23s secured wins against Bangladesh and the Philippines but faced defeat against Thailand in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers and lost a recent friendly against China U23s.

With preparations in full swing, the India U23 team is eager to showcase their skills and gain valuable experience from the upcoming friendly matches against Malaysia. The players are optimistic about putting their best foot forward and making the country proud on the international stage.